Rafaela Prifti/
The promotion of Shkelzen Gashi’s book Massacres in Kosovo 1998-1999 hosted by the Consulate General of Kosova and St. John’s University in New York, on Thursday, was an homage to the 26th anniversary of Kosova’s Liberation Day that gave pause for thought, more than any ceremonial setting. Concerns regarding the community, Kosova government and the present global situation quickly engaged the audience and the panelists. Ambassador Blerim Reka reminded the audience that “June 12 is a special day for Kosovo. We are forever grateful to the US and the International community for its support. While we hope to join the UN member states, Kosova is a tantalizing success story.” Making a quick remark on the book, Ambassador Reka said that “the events in it belong to a history that is not far removed.”
“This book is a bonafide document that is exceedingly important in terms of reconciliation which moves Kosovo forward towards Europe,” said keynote speaker Christopher Hyland, a respected diplomat and businessman. In his presentation, Hyland, a former member of President Clinton’s cabinet, shared some important moments pertaining to his interactions with Kosova’s late president Ibrahim Rugova. A recipient of Vatra Gold Medal, Hyland singled out Jim Xhema as a leading figure that rallied the Albanian community, and restaurateur Bruno (Selimaj) for his role in the “Albanian Restaurant Revolution.” Highly critical of the Association of Serb Municipalities, Hyland denounced it as a destabilizing move designed to indefinitely impede Kosova’s efforts to join the European Union. “Historically,” he noted, “the policies around religious and ethnic divides, generally put forth by the West, have failed the countries that have implemented them, as is the case of Lebanon 32 years later.”
Giving a very positive review of Gashi’s book, Prof. Dr. Anna Di Lellio, NYU Adjunct Clinical Professor and sociologist, said that “it is right on account of its credible sources,” “it is right to the victims and survivors” and it is “opportune because of its distance in time and also the current situation.” In a quick rebuttal to Hyland’s statement with regard to reconciling through memory, Prof. Di Lellio voiced the position that there is “little connection between remembering and reconciliation” citing the cases of Bosnia and even present day Germany to prove her point.
Dr. Basilio Monteiro, Chair and Associate Professor at St. John’s University guided the discussion in a respectful and engaging manner. Before inviting author Shkelzen Gashi to address the event, Dr. Monteiro noted that “St. John’s University has hosted previous events with Kosovo President and Kosovo Former Ambassador Frymezim Isufaj.”
“Although this book chronicles 83 massacres, it is important to understand that such acts constitute one of the violations under the International Human Rights Law,” said Gashi. He listed one by one the violations: killings and targeted killings, (he cited two examples: Bajram Kelmendi – a Kosova Human Rights Lawyer, Fehmi Agani, a Kosova academic and leading politician of LDK,) disappearances, rapes, tortures, looting, arrests, forced displacements of citizens, burning of property, cultural building and monuments, pets. “This book is about justice for the victims.” Calling attention to school textbooks, Gashi noted that they should be based on the facts, on both sides.” In that context, the book, published by the NGOs Admovere and Integra, contains accounts that are in Albanian, Serbian and English.
Noticing a lack of documentation, Shkelzen Gashi, a human rights activist, set out to research and collect the data on the massacres carried out between February 28, 1998 and July 23, 1999 in one book. He intends to keep researching and publishing such records that he believes are “important for the reconciliation.” The three conditions, as he put it, are: to know the truth, reparations, and institutional reforms. Two examples: Vucic, who is serving as Serbia’s President since 2017, led its Ministry of Information in 1998-1999, and Ivica Dacic, Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, was the spokesperson for Milosevic, the late nationalist president of Serbia.
The panel of three engaged in a session of questions and answers. The question from the audience What can Kosovo do now? opened the door for a sharp rebuke by Hyland of the Kosova community here and government for refusing to create a Kosova Caucus or a lobbying group in the US Congress, because as he put it, on the Hill “Kosova doesn’t exist.” At the same time, the diplomat urged the audience to support Kurti’s government for “its loyalty to constitutionality”. Not mincing any words, he condemned the approach in the last years by the International Community and Europe’s opposition of Kurti “that is designed to break the back of Kosovo.”
The event concluded with book signing, refreshments and possible future presentations at the venue. On behalf of the hosts, Luca Iandoli, Dean for the Collins College of Professional Studies, and Associate Dean for Global Programs and Research at St. John’s University welcomed and greeted the author, featured speakers, dignitaries and guests. The event was covered by TV 21 Senior Reporter Halil Mulaj, Vehbi Bajrami, activist of the Albanian American community and President of llyria Publishing and Dielli newspaper.
